Akira Kurosawa Collection [Blu-ray]

Spanning epic samurai cinema, Shakespearean tragedy, modern crime and deeply human drama, these films represent the full creative range of a master director at the height of his powers. Each film stands as a cornerstone of world cinema and a vital chapter in Kurosawa's extraordinary legacy.

The collection also includes seven episodes of Toho Masterworks: It Is Wonderful to Create, offering insight into the making of these enduring classics.

IKIRU (1952)
Kanji Watanabe is a mid-level Tokyo bureaucrat who has worked for thirty uneventful years. When he's diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer, he is forced to confront the emptiness of his life. Initially despondent, he resolves to find meaning before he dies and embarks on a mission to build a children's playground in a blighted urban area, overcoming red tape and indifference.
 
SEVEN SAMURAI (1954)
Seven Samurai tells the story of a sixteenth-century village whose desperate inhabitants hire the eponymous warriors to protect them from invading bandits. This blockbuster journey from master director Akira Kurosawa - featuring legendary actors Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura - seamlessly weaves delicate human emotions and relentless actions into a rich, entertaining and unforgettable tale of courage and home.
 
THRONE OF BLOOD (1957)
In feudal Japan, the warlord Washizu is prophesied by a spirit to become ruler of Spider's Web Castle. Encouraged by his ruthless wife Asaji, he murders his lord and seizes power but his ambition leads him into a terrifying spiral of paranoia, betrayal, and supernatural dread. Kurosawa's film is a haunting reimagining of Shakespeare's Macbeth, infused with Noh-theatre influences and ark, atmospheric visuals.
 
THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (1958)
During a civil war, two greedy and bumbling peasants, Tahei and Matashichi, stumble into a larger adventure when they come into contact with Princess Yuki and General Rokurōta Makanbe. The priestess and general are secretly carrying their clan's gold as they try to flee through enemy territory. The peasants' comic greed and cowardice contrast with the nobility and courage of their protectors, and together they embark on a dangerous, action-packed journey across hostile lands. Filled with beautiful cinematography, generous amounts of comedy and some of the finest action sequences ever filmed - The Hidden Fortress was the first of Kurosawa's films to be shot in 'widescreen' and is a must for all fans of great filmmaking.
 
YOJIMBO (1961)
Legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mufune returns for his 9th collaboration with master director Akira Kurosawa in Yojimbo, a film that has inspired countless filmmakers. The plot of this film was used as inspiration by the great 'Spaghetti Western' director Sergio Leone and remade as the classic "A Fistful of Dollars" in 1964.
A masterless samurai (ronin) arrives in a small town run by two rival crime bosses. He takes the name "Sanjuro" and deliberately plays both sides, pitting on gang against the other. Using cunning, swordsmanship, and manipulation, he orchestrates a violent gang war while profiting from both factions.
 
SANJURO (1962)
A cynical, wandering samurai named Sanjuro reluctantly helps a group of young, idealistic samurai who are frustrated with corruption in their clan. Using his sharp wit and blade, Sanjuro challenges their naive notions of honour and leadership and helps weed out shady individuals in their midst. With plenty of action amongst this light-hearted comedy, Sanjuro is an examination of manners, protocol and politics in feudal Japan and also boasts one of the fastest and most breathtaking climactic duels in cinema history.
 
HIGH AND LOW (1963)
Based on Ed McBain's pulp thriller King's Ransom, and filled with 1960s police action, High and Low takes us deep into the insufferable heat and seedy heroin-addicted underworld of postwar Tokyo. Kingo Gondo, a wealthy executive at a show company Yokohama, has just mortgaged his home to finance a leveraged buyout. But his chauffeur's young son is kidnapped by mistake and the kidnapper demands a huge ransom. Gondo faces a devastating moral and financial dilemma: pay and risk ruin, or refuse and risk the boy's life. Meanwhile, the police conduct a meticulous, city-wide manhunt.

RED BEARD (1965)
In 19th-century Japan, young Dr. Noboru Yasumoto, newly graduated from a Western-style medical school, is assigned to a rural clinic run by the stern but compassionate "Red Beard" (Dr. Niide). Yasumoto initially chafes under Red Beard's discipline, but over time he learns humility, kindness, and true medical service especially as he interacts with the clinic's poorest parents, including a young girl rescued from a brothel.

AKIRA KUROSAWA: IT IS WONDERFUL TO CREATE
Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create explores the making of Kurosawa's films through rare behind the scenes footage, interviews and production archies. Produced by Toho for the Masterworks reissue of Kurosawa's films, each episode presents a clear and engaging portrait of Kurosawa at work and highlights the collaboration, craftsmanship and creative discipline that shaped some of the most influential films in world cinema. This collection features seven episodes in the series including Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood and High and Low.

This Blu-ray is Region B (UK, Australia, New Zealand).

For more information on region codes - see here.

Actors: Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Keiko Tsushima, Isao Kimura, Daisuke Katō
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Format: Blu-ray
Languages: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Number of Discs: 9
Run Time: 1180 Minutes
Country of Origin: Australia
Release date: 10 June 2026

TBA